Original recipe of the week: Lentils with chorizo and spinach

Hearty, wholesome and delicious – the three main principles of comfort food and all can be said about wondrous lentils, especially when paired with something as yummy as chorizo. If you’re not a meat fan, add extra garlic and a dash of fresh red chilli for more zing. Don’t try to make this if you’re in a rush. It takes a bit of time and love but in the end it’s worth it!

Serves: 2

Cook time: 20 minutes

What you will need:

2 ½ cups dried red lentils, rinsed well

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 sprigs of thyme, leaves removed

4 handfuls fresh spinach

80g chorizo sausage, diced

Salt and pepper to taste

What you need to do:

1. Put the rinsed lentils in a large saucepan and add cold water until just covering the lentils. Bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer, adding water as necessary to prevent drying out.
2. In a small saucepan gently fry the chorizo with the garlic and thyme leaves on a medium heat until cooked through and golden, then remove from the heat.
3. When the lentils are almost soft, add the chorizo mix.
4. Once fully soft add in half of the spinach, stir and once wilted add in the rest of the spinach.
5. Once this is all cooked down, season to taste and serve.      

Bethany Stone